What makes Porter's sights so special is the way history and modernity perform a sloping but charming duet here. I remember driving over the old railway bridge for the first time, which once formed the backbone of the Chicago & North Western Railway – a relic from the 1850s, which today still runs over Lake Michigan Canal and tells more stories than some travel guides. The city itself grew out of a small trading post named after the early settler Thomas Porter, and later became part of the Westchester Township in Lake County, an area that proudly asserts itself between industry and sea level.
If you take the I‐94 north from Chicago, you can immediately feel that you can leave the urban gear behind and slide into a piece of Indiana-Idyll – a short stop at the South Shore Line is enough to reach the “small town with a big heart”. There, between the old barns and the new cafés, the rural flair meets a slightly sloppy city life that I personally feel as refreshingly honest. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual port festivals, but the local food trucks at the port are really great and give the whole a hint of coastal flair, which you can only find at the Great Lakes Shore. So those looking for a place that breathes history, but not suffocated in dusty museums, the Porter sights offer an ideal setting – with an eye-catcher and a portion of local irony that makes the whole really live.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
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You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Porter, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first place I have to mention is that Indiana Dunes National Park. Who comes here usually has the image of endless sand dunes and the smell of fresh sea air in the head – and this is not without reason. I dared to climb Mount Baldy on a windy Saturday morning; the panorama over the lake is as if you look over a huge, glittering sheet of paper. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't get to the high season on the weekend, then the field in front of the visitor center becomes a battlefield quickly.
Just a couple of miles away Indian Dunes State Park, which looks a little more compact than the national park, but much more comfortable for it. Here is the famous West Beach where I had a picnic with a group of college students who knew more about Instagram filters than about the geology of the dunes. The beach is clean, the water is cool, and the visitor center offers a small cafe – perfect for a quick espresso before falling into the sand.
A short trip to Michigan City leads to Michigan City Lighthouse. I don't quite understand the hype about lighthouses, but this one has something romantic that reminds me of old seafarers. The ascent to the viewing platform is not particularly exhausting, and from there you have a wide view over the port. Parking is available directly in front of the lighthouse, but they are quickly occupied on weekends, so they prefer to come early.
If you have enough of beach and sand, it is worth visiting Bailly HomesteadThe oldest preserved house in Indiana. The property tells the story of the French-Indian trade relations from the 18th century Century, and I have seen a guided tour there with a very enthusiastic historian who, every time from nothing, threw an old word from the French. The grounds are well signposted and parking is easily possible on the small farm.
Another secret tip I like to mention is the Calumet Trail. This 16-mile-long cycle path spans the rural idyll of Porter County and offers numerous branches to small lakes and Feldkirchen. I spent half an hour there with my old trek bike, while a tractor passed and shouted “Moin!” – a real piece of medium-western charm. The trail is free, and parking at the entry points is usually sufficient.
For a bit of culture and a bit of nostalgia this is Porter County Historical Museum in Valparaiso worth a detour. The collection is small, but the exhibition on local railway history has fascinated me – I discovered an old model of a steam locomotive that was almost as well preserved as my own youth dreams. The museum is located in a former railway station, and parking is right in front of the building where an old chimney almost already acts as an art work.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Marquette Park in Michigan City. The park is famous for its sculptures and the annual music festival, but I loved it mainly because of the small lake where I bought an ice cream from a mobile stand on a hot summer day. The park is easily accessible, parking is free, and the trails are well maintained – ideal for a relaxing walk after the festival.
Whether you are looking for sand, history or a quiet bike tour, the Porter area offers a colourful mix of experiences that go far beyond the city boundaries. The places mentioned show that Porter attractions have more to offer than one would suspect at first glance – and all this with a touch of local peculiarity that you simply have to love.
This guide invites you, with me a small tour through what I am lovingly calling “Porter, the underestimated corner in the Middle West” – and this without the usual tourist-Klischees.
I always start with Porter Train Station because this is the heartpiece that the city has kept on its heart since 1880. The old brick building on Highway 12 is not only a photo motif for Instagram-Aficionados, but also a working stop for Amtrak. When you are standing there for the first time, you hear the rhythmic rats of the trains and the silent murmuring of the locals who hold their weekly “coffee-and-cheek round”. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, it becomes a real problem because then the whole village flows to the railway station to catch the “Porter Express”.
A short walk further (approximately five minutes if you don't go straight in slow motion) leads you to Porter Public Library. I have to admit, I don't quite understand the hype about libraries, but here there is an amazingly well sorted local history collection that even contains a few yellowed newspaper articles from the 1920s. The librarian, Mrs. Hargrove, knows every regular and occasionally makes an ironic comment on the “modern reading culture” while she sends you a book about the history of the railway.
If you're looking for something green, then the Porter Town Park Your goal. The park is small, but it has a small lake that is populated in the summer by ducks who stare at you with a glance, as if they knew that you are not only for a picnic, but also for watching duck drama. I once organized a spontaneous Frisbee tournament with a few teenagers from high school – the result was a bunch of fryed frisbees and a loud laughter that halled over the lawn.
A bit further north, almost on the edge of the city, this is Porter Historical Museum. This is not the typical dusty museum you might imagine; Here are interactive exhibits that reflect the life of the early settlers. I was there in an old farmhouse “shining” and almost the feeling that the old wooden ceiling sends me back to the past with its blushing sound. The museum is a real treasure for everyone who likes to immerse themselves in history without rolling a whole book.
Another highlight I can't leave is that Porter Farmers Market – a weekly market that takes place every Wednesday in the community center parking lot. Here there are fresh strawberries, homemade jams and the notorious “Porter Honey”, which is supposed to come from bees that fly only through the field path. I once met an old farmer who told me that he has been here every Wednesday since 1975 and that he does not understand the “Hype for Bio-Kram” because he simply grows good vegetables.
For those who want to swing a little golf, there is the Porter Golf Club. The place is not exactly a PGA tournament grounds, but the fairways are well maintained and the clubhouse serves a solid burger that will bring you back to your feet after the game. I once made a local politician who told me that he is making his “strategic decisions” for the city council meetings – a bit of irony, considering that the green is more intended for relaxation than for power games.
A short detour to Porter Community Center is also worth it. The Center is the social epicentre: yoga classes, art exhibitions and occasionally karaoke evenings take place where the neighbors give their “caraoke talents” (or the lack of them). I once tried to sing “Sweet Caroline” there, and was promptly corrected by a choir from seniors – a moment I don’t forget so quickly.
And yes, if you’re looking for a compact summary, simply tap “Porter Sights” into your search engine – you’ll quickly realize that the city has more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. Every place here has its own small history, and I think that makes Porter a perfect destination for travelers who are looking for the authenticity without being overwhelmed by excessive advertising promises.
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